The franchise that brought action movies into the next century and made audiences think could be coming back to the big screen.

Warner Bros. is in the "early stages" of developing a reboot of "The Matrix," according to The Hollywood Reporter. The groundbreaking 1999 sci-fi film was a visual stunner that spawned a pair of less-heralded sequels yet remains a pop-culture staple.

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The report says original trilogy's producer, Joel Silver, approached Warners about a new film in the series, though his involvement is less certain because of a "strained relationship" with the Wachowski siblings, who wrote and directed the films.

There is no indication if the Wachowskis are involved with the potential new project, though sources say there is interest in "Creed" actor Michael B. Jordan to star.

Keanu Reeves starred in the trilogy, memorably playing Neo, the hacker-turned-messiah in a world dominated by machines that have enslaved millions of humans in a virtual reality simulation. The films were noted for their mix of mind-bending action scenes and weighty philosophical themes, though too much of the latter may have dragged down the sequels.

With the most recent film in the series, 2003's "The Matrix Revolutions," hitting theaters nearly 15 years ago, the possible return raises the question if viewers want more of the series.